Neighborhood involvement helps solve crime


Photo captions: Stg. Dan Boese and Information Technician Phyllis Manurich

The best way to curtail crime is to be aware of your surroundings. Keep your doors locked, both vehicle doors and outside home doors. And if something makes you feel uncomfortable, phone 911. You have the right to feel at ease in your own home.

This was the advice given to neighbors who attended and East Hillside Neighborhood meeting with the police in September.

One resident of the neighborhood said, “I feel odd calling 911.” Sgt. Dan Boese said, “It is a quality of life issue. If you don’t feel comfortable in your home…call.” He went on to say that the police can sometimes piece events together to solve or curtail crime when the public phones about suspicious activity.

This meeting took place at the Grant Recreation Center, 901 E. Eleventh Street on Tues., Sept. 26. Fourteen community members visited with four police officers and Information Technician, Phyllis Marnuich. The officers included: Lt. Mike Tusken, Sgt. Dan Boese, Sgt. Steve Stracek and Officer Jeremy Graves.

In the past couple of months residents’ homes have been robbed while they were at home with their doors unlocked. Also, if your car is unlocked it is so much easier to steal something out of the car, or search around inside the car for an extra key.

Community members visited with the police and talked about what they could do to ensure cooperation between residents whether they are homeowners or renters. One landlord was present. He spoke of his concern of keeping good tenants.